Lack of use - Battery help
Submitted: Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 18:14
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flux
Hi guys,
I now have another vehicle for daily use to commute to and from work. This means now that my GQ Patrol sits for a week or so at a time without being used, waiting to go offroad or
camping. I have a normal starter battery plus an AGM battery hooked up via a continous duty solenoid for my fridge, etc. So the batteries are separated unless the ignition is on (and a switch on the dash is on).
I'm a little worried in a short time that I will have a flat starter battery unless I start the vehicle and run it regularly?
What suggestions are there to keep my batteries ready to go? I have so far come up with running the car twice a week for 5-10 mins, hook the battery up to a charger, or possibly a solar trickle charger? Any ideas?
Flux.
Reply By: Jimbo - Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 18:19
Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 18:19
Flux,
Trickle chargers continue to put charge into a battery and will. in time, stuff it.
You need to have a charger, normally a three stage, that has a float charge. That is a charge that holds at 13.2 volts. These are expensive.
The other option is to add a Projecta BM 140 charge controller, which converts your conventional battery charger to a 2 stage and holds a float charge. You can get one at Bursons for $50.
Cheers,
Jim.
AnswerID:
124471
Follow Up By: flux - Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 20:44
Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 20:44
Thanks Jim, I had a feeling my Projecta tradesman charger would probably stuff it in no time. Cheers for the suggestion.
FollowupID:
379394
Reply By: Boc1971 - Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 18:21
Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 18:21
Solar trickle would be best option if there is no load on the batteries , ie you always running the fridge when not needed. and the can get some cheapies if you dont want to spend to much $$
other option .. just unhook battery connectors - if there is no drain on the battery then in theory it should be ok
Frank
AnswerID:
124472
Follow Up By: flux - Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 20:42
Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 20:42
I don't run the fridge unless I'm going
camping, so whilst its sitting there waiting for me to take it on a trip, there is no load.
FollowupID:
379393
Reply By: Member - Brad G (SA) - Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 18:25
Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 18:25
Hi
If you have no need to run the fridge then your vehicle should be able to sit for at least two - three weeks without any trouble. Another option if you have battery leakage through the vehicle is fitting an isolator switch on the battery, we do this on seldom or seasonly used farm equipment and don't have any problems starting them a few months later.
Hope this helps.
Cheers Brad
AnswerID:
124474
Follow Up By: flux - Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 20:47
Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 20:47
Thanks Brad. Not a bad idea, and a cheap one at that! I like the low-tech low price approach when its possible :) I guess the downside is you loose the memory on anything that has one, ie Radio etc, being disconnected. I am not sure if I have much battery leakage. I know my previous Hilux couldn't go a week without flattening the battery.
FollowupID:
379397
Reply By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 19:00
Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 19:00
I'm running my standard car battery charger through a solar 3 stage regulator. I have had the same problem over the last few months, only using the surf every second weekend or so. But, I'm finishing up work on Friday so it'll be out of the garage and being used every day again soon!
The way I've got it setup is so that the solar regulator (it has not solar pannels) cut's the charger out and let's the batteries float when required so as not to stuff them.
AnswerID:
124482
Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 20:48
Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 20:48
Retiring already??
FollowupID:
379398
Follow Up By: flux - Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 20:55
Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 20:55
Thanks Jeff, Your suggestion sounds similar to Jims using different equipment, however coming up with the same solution. A quick look on a 12v website seems to show a solar regulator has a bit more control and complexity than a charge controller. I guess the cost is a bit more too ;)
FollowupID:
379401
Follow Up By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Wednesday, Aug 10, 2005 at 10:53
Wednesday, Aug 10, 2005 at 10:53
"Retiring already??"
LMAO, yeah kinda. Changing of careers with a 5 year gap. (Uni and looking after the kids, while the missus goes back to work).
So now I'll have everything I always wanted, All the time in the world to do all projects around the house, to the 4bie ... ... .. ... . Oh CRAP, I've got all the time and no bloody money! ;-)
Life's a hard balance is'nt it? But Yeah it's ALL-A-CHANGIN at the moment, very bizzare. I've even worked out how to use that funny white box in the laundrry with the dials on it!
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: geocacher (djcache) - Thursday, Aug 11, 2005 at 06:02
Thursday, Aug 11, 2005 at 06:02
What's the toaster doing in the laundry? Put it back in the kitchen....
Dave
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Thursday, Aug 11, 2005 at 13:36
Thursday, Aug 11, 2005 at 13:36
"What's the toaster doing in the laundry? Put it back in the kitchen.... "
Dave, I'm insulted that you would think I was THAT sutpid!
BTW, I found out that you don't fill the dryer up with
water, that's what the washing machine's for.... :-{
I'll get all this worked out eventually!!
Hey does anyone know what that that box with the clock in it on the firdge is for? I thought that was how you dried the cutlery but it made lots of sparks and smoke...?
FollowupID:
379650
Follow Up By: geocacher (djcache) - Friday, Aug 12, 2005 at 01:10
Friday, Aug 12, 2005 at 01:10
You were on the right track Jeff but it's one of those luxury items that is for drying cats after a bath or heavy rain and it's lots faster than using a towel.
If you do use a towel don't use the good ones, then you can soak them in diesel on 4wd trips and use them to light your
camp fire. Saves puttin them int that other white box in the laundry.
With that other white box thingo, if you put the red shirts in with the white ones your better half will ban you from ever using it again, thus saving you from all the stress and confusion of having to operate it. Sometimes more than one attempt at this is required to achieve a total ban but usually not more than 3.
Dave
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Friday, Aug 12, 2005 at 10:57
Friday, Aug 12, 2005 at 10:57
"if you put the red shirts in with the white ones your better half will ban you from ever using it again"
I also find putting "pretty" garments in dryer on hot has the same effect! LMAO!
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 20:46
Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 20:46
dont worry about it I leave
mine standing for 2 weeks out of every 3 without problems
AnswerID:
124503
Reply By: Mike DiD - Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 21:02
Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 21:02
If your battery loses significant charge when sitting idle for four weeks, it could be one of these -
- your battery is too old
- there is too much leaakge currnet from the vehicle
- your charging system isn't working
- you aren't driving for long enough to recharge the battery.
If you really want to just keep a fully charged battery topped iup f not being charged for many weeks, then you are wasting money buying anything more than a Float Charger - puts out 13.6 volts at a low current.
For $25, this will maintain charge on a car battery, although it is designed to charge up small batteries.
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=MB3526&CATID=18&keywords=&SPECIAL=&form=CAT&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=250
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: flux - Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 22:18
Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 22:18
Nice... thanks Mike. This looks like a great low cost solution.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Mike DiD - Wednesday, Aug 10, 2005 at 08:23
Wednesday, Aug 10, 2005 at 08:23
If you want to Charge a battery that has been discharged no lower than 70% remaining - you only need a Two Stage Charger - Bulk and Float.
If you want to charge a battery that has been discharged below 70% remaining and you want to charge it as quickly as possible while preserving a long life - you need a Three Stage Charger.
FollowupID:
379467
Reply By: Wazza - (Vic) - Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 21:08
Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 21:08
I use this:
projecta float charger
Cruiser sits for weeks at times. Works a treat.
Wazza
AnswerID:
124512
Reply By: flux - Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 22:20
Tuesday, Aug 09, 2005 at 22:20
Thanks guys for the time taken to respond to my question. You have given me some great solutions, which I will apply.
Flux.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: stevesub - Wednesday, Aug 10, 2005 at 11:28
Wednesday, Aug 10, 2005 at 11:28
We use a trickle charger designed for boats and bought from a boat
shop. It does not have the guts to charge a battery but we have left it on a vehicle for 9 months with no problems - vehicle started 1st touch of the key.
Stevesub
AnswerID:
124584
Reply By: Member - Collyn R (WA) - Wednesday, Aug 10, 2005 at 12:22
Wednesday, Aug 10, 2005 at 12:22
Flux - with respect, you are seeking solutions to a non-existant problem.
Any good (especially sealed) starter battery should lose only 1-2% of its charge in a week. No need to charge. If it doesn't hold that charge, then either something that should'nt is drawing energy - or the battery is buggered!
Re AGMs, as long as it's reasonably
well charged initially an AGM holds its charge for six months in really hot
places and 12 months or more in colder
places.
They are best not float charged - not least because their recommended float voltage is lower than for other batteries - especially at high temps. Normal chargers are likely to gently
cook them.
Trust this helps
Collyn Rivers
AnswerID:
124592
Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Friday, Aug 12, 2005 at 00:38
Friday, Aug 12, 2005 at 00:38
yep thats my experience - done it many times and turn the key and away you go
FollowupID:
379732
Reply By: Mainey (WA) - Wednesday, Aug 10, 2005 at 14:01
Wednesday, Aug 10, 2005 at 14:01
flux
connect your fridge up to the Aux battery and turn it on.......
connect one of these ->
http://tinyurl.com/7lodhas <- as Jimbo has said to your present charger and connect it to your Aux battery,
You will have a fridge that is cold and ready to go bush at a moments notice and with a fully charged Aux battery.
AnswerID:
124615